Bethe Correia playing numbers game, and hopes UFC debut win is in the cards

Bethe Correia is all about numbers.

And one of the numbers the former accountant has seen is the number of her pro fights – six – against the number of Julie Kedizie‘s pro fights – 28.

Correia (6-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) makes her UFC debut tonight against Kedzie (16-12 MMA, 0-0 UFC) at UFC Fight Night 33. Their fight opens the main card of the event at Brisbane Entertainment Centre in Australia. It airs on FOX Sports 1 following prelims on the same channel and MMAjunkie.

Numbers was Correia’s life – until she discovered MMA.

“I graduated from college with an accounting degree,” she told MMAjunkie. “So that’s the kind of work I used to do, though I confess I didn’t enjoy it. I’m too hyperactive for office work. And fighting fulfilled that gap in my life. That’s what was missing.”

Training with the Pitbull Brothers (Patricky and Patricio Freire) in her native Brazil, Correia has gotten out to a 6-0 start in her professional career the past 18 months.

it’s a career that has taken off quickly, and Correia knows she hasn’t had a lot of time to stop and soak things in. But at the same time, that means she’s been training more than others might be.

” It was a very fast trajectory. I haven’t had much time, but with me, it was matter of quality over quantity,” she said. “In what little time I had, it has all been very intense. I’ve been fully dedicated so I could earn respect for myself. This allowed me to advance rapidly. I’ve been very, very dedicated.”

Most recently, she outpointed Erica Paes at Jungle Fight 54 in Brazil – a fighter known for being the only one to beat Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino.

And that’s the type of win that gets a fighter noticed. Likely not by coincidence, it wasn’t long after that Correia got the call from the UFC.

“(It) was great for my career,” she said of the win over Paes. “It’s the greatest organization in Latin America, with worldwide recognition, and I had a victory against a solid opponent. Plus, Erica is a jiu-jitsu black belt, a former champion, and I was able to nullify her game. That fight proved that I’m not playing around. I’m here to stay in MMA.”

Correia is the third Brazilian woman to sign to the UFC, and she’s anxious to make a big first impression against a veteran like Kedzie.

“I’m very happy to face someone who’s already faced top competition,” Correia said. “For me, it’s a pleasure. I always enjoy good fights, and Julie is an athlete with great potential. All her fights are good ones. I like to face someone who also enjoys fighting. I’m very happy to face her and I think it will be a great fight. I can hardly wait. I feel everyone will enjoy watching us.”

But Correia isn’t willing to put her talent with numbers to bed just yet. She’s hoping for a successful and lucrative MMA career – and some paychecks that can put those skills to good use.

“Hopefully I can put my math skills to work if I win some more fights and make good investments,” she said.

For the latest on UFC Fight Night 33, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.